Mariachi music has long been a soundtrack of Mexican culture and the American Southwest. Now, it’s influencing the educational landscape of Southern Nevada, and strumming a new chord at UNLV.

For sophomore music education student Axel Rodriguez Olivas, mariachi music transformed him into a trailblazer in more ways than one. The only musician in his family, he grew up listening to norteño music, a regional Mexican genre, and wanted to play the trumpet. He signed up for a mariachi elective his sophomore year in high school and was placed in a violin class. “I originally didn’t want the violin… But fate chose the violin for me and it’s been fun,” he says.

In just four years, he progressed from a beginner to the student director of his Las Vegas High School’s mariachi group, Mariachi Joya. He credits his then-high school mariachi educator Stephen Blanco, who now oversees UNLV’s mariachi minor, for inspiring his journey. “He’s helped me grow as a person, as a musician,” says Rodriguez Olivas.

Now, Rodriguez Olivas is the first student to pursue a minor in mariachi at UNLV.

UNLV Mariachi Classes and Ensemble

The UNLV School of Music became one of the first in the nation to offer a robust offering of mariachi classes in 2024, with the goal of preserving and celebrating Mexican culture through music.

“The new minor in mariachi education was created with music education majors in mind,” says Blanco. “At this time, there are more teaching jobs than educators to teach them."

Blanco hopes that by offering a slate of classes focused on mariachi music and education, graduates will go on to fill the demand for music educators who are prepared to teach diverse music. In Clark County alone, more than 8,000 high school students — the highest in the country — are involved in mariachi classes and bands.

The UNLV mariachi classes go hand in hand with the university-sponsored ensemble, Mariachi Revolución.

The mariachi minor consists of three components: core classes such as Fundamentals of Mariachi and Mariachi Songs and Styles; ensemble participation; and applied lessons in voice and the student’s chosen instrument.

Although only a year old, Mariachi Revolución has already become a symbol of UNLV spirit and pride. The ensemble has shared the stage with famed vocalist Jonathan Palomar at the first annual Mariachi Extravaganza-Las Vegas!; kicked off UNLV Day at a Clark County Commissioner’s meeting; and performed in Las Vegas at the request of former President Joe Biden.

Inspiring the Next Generation of Mariachi Musicians

Rodriguez Olivas started performing with the ensemble this fall. "It's an adrenaline rush that never gets old," he says. "It's always so exciting — it brings a smile to my face. It's memories that I will hold dearly forever."

While performing is a thrill, leading the way in a new academic offering is even more meaningful. He says, "Being one of the first students is exciting, and I'm excited to see it grow."

Rodriguez Olivas says that Blanco’s support — from high school until now at UNLV — was pivotal. “My biggest mentor here at UNLV is Mr. Blanco. He was the one who pushed me to come to UNLV.” 

And, he hopes to follow his mentor's path professionally: “I want to go back into the [school] district. I want to teach people the beautiful music of mariachi. I hope to pass on the tradition." 

A Pipeline for the Future

Blanco envisions the mariachi courses as a foundation for developing the next generation of music educators. By the time they graduate, students will be trained in mariachi arranging and equipped with the instructional skills needed to lead school-based mariachi programs.

Opportunities to study mariachi at the high school level are growing, but options in higher education remain scarce. The challenge is compounded by a shortage of qualified instructors.

"Dwindle that down even more to a shortage of instructors qualified to teach at the higher education level, it's been difficult, and it's still difficult," Blanco says. "But we're making it happen."

As UNLV’s mariachi classes develop, so will its cultural and educational impact. Graduates of the minor can pursue careers as K-12 music educators, community ensemble directors, or cultural arts advocates.